What We Do in the Shadows' Final Season: Slacker Vamps Do the Bare-Toothed Minimum

By John Kirk

Rating: B

If you’ve been dutifully following this whimsical and whacky comedy about four Old World vampires secretly living slackers’ live and skiving off the fat of the 21st Century, you may find the final installment of What We Do in the Shadows a bit of a let-down.

Nandor the Relentless (Kayvan Novak), Nadja (Natasia Demetriou), Lazlo (Matt Berry) and Colin Robinson (Mark Proksch), the core of the Staten Island Vampire Nest, have never failed to entertain with their combination of ineptitude, ignorance and insecure egotism as they blunder through their coexistence with the neighbours. Remember: their mission was to dominate and conquer the entire North American continent, but that goal somehow went the way of the dodo, as they became beguiled by creature comforts.

Kristen Schaal  (The Guide),  Harvey Guillén (Guillermo),  Natasia Demetriou (Nadja) Kayvan Novak (Nandor), Matt Berry (Lazlo), Mark Proksch (Colin Robinson).

Each season would usually feature some sort of background storyline in each episode, often centred around the vampire familiar Guillermo (Harvey Guillén). If it wasn’t about his frustrated efforts to become a vampire, then it was about his eventual transformation without his master’s permission, or the discovery of vampire slayer’s blood running through his veins. Other back stories involved the frequent appearance of the Vampiric Council, bringing the group to task about their lackluster efforts to dominate humanity.

But that’s the whole appeal of this show, right? A bunch of unmotivated immortals used to being waited on, hand and foot, woefully out of touch with the modern world. Then, when they eventually do muster up enough vim to enact some crackpot scheme, they have to contend with the fact that the mortal world has passed them by.

Season six registers at a comparatively casual level. The fact that this is the last season doesn’t even come through in the first few episodes. For instance, while there has been a cavalcade of comedy guests throughout the seasons, the first episode introduces Jerry … the Vampire, a long-lost room-mate (played by SNL alumnus Michael Patrick O’Brien) who the nest forgot about. His return, though mildly funny, really doesn’t add any sort of zest. You know his introduction at the will have some sort of return. However, his banal intro really doesn’t promise very much.

It's disappointing when you consider the critical acclaim this show has received, including multiple Emmy nominations. The dialogue is still fierce and freaky (anal speculums, jack-off machines, big dick jobs at equity firms) which is comforting given this is the last season and last chance to shock.

But where’s the pomp? Where’s the celebratory build-up to the end of what has to be one of the most enjoyable series on FX? The fact that it’s ending deserves more than the lackluster treatment than what has been offered in the first three episodes. What is the backstory for this season?

It's almost like the significance of the last season doesn’t matter. Does the malaise of eternal life extend to the show writers? If there’s a plan to deal with the final season then there is no hint of it in the first few episodes and in fact, not even a mention of it in the official season description. Even if there is a big finish promised in the last episode, then even that is poor service to the recognition of the fun that this series has delivered.

In no way am I disparaging the talent on this show. Matt Berry is one of my favourite comics. I’ve followed his work since The IT Crowd. Novak’s performance as Nandor is hilarious in its subtle poignancy and portrayal of his feckless character’s closeted pan-sexuality. Natasia Demetriou presents a combination of an Old World sexually-dominant aristocrat who’s also trying to find her identity as a modern female in the New World. Colin Robinson (Mark Proksch), the energy vampire is side-splittingly funny as the dullest and most awkward character in the room. 

Based on the Taika Waititi and Jemaine Clement film of the same name, this series has done extremely well, given its origins. The film, an enduring cult favourite of its own, gave rise to a show that lasted six seasons at a time when five seasons seems to be a new benchmark. Surely it deserves more recognition than the standard treatment?

Obviously, when you are dealing with immortals, then the finale season has got to be a bit more grandiose than the “business-as-usual” mood than what has been offered. These are beings who have presumably existed for more than 500 years. Surely, they deserve more than standard fare? There is a lot of funny in this show that doesn’t seem to be properly treated.

The dynamic established by the previous seasons continues in this last season. But what is missing is a meta perspective. Even though writers don’t decide when a show is cancelled, they still must deal with the fact and deliver a season worthy of the occasion. That’s what this season is missing.

But who am I? The show is about slackers. Vampires, unwilling to forgo their sexual depravity, bloodlust, and fulfilling other wanton desires and base pleasures while at the same time protecting sensitive egos from conundrums offered by the modern world. In that respect the last season holds true … but, come on.

Did the writers have to lazily do that too?

What We Do in the Shadows – Season Six. Cast: Kayvan Novak, Matt Berry, Natasia Demetriou, Harvey Guillén, Mark Proksch, Kristen Schaal and Doug Jones. Premieres October 21 on FX and streams on Disney+ the next day.